Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King-Chapter 259 - 249: Second Realm Mysteries, Marvels of Celestial Sound
The white mist exudes a fragrance, floating and suspending, merging back into heaven and earth.
This is the auspicious sign of "Three Flowers on the Head."
Li Xian feels the changes. The Martial Arts Realm "Food Essence Transcendence," "Bone Shaping and Embryo"... all increase the body’s potential, tending toward heaven and earth, adding possibilities and extending lifespan.
The strength significantly increased. But it is not exaggerated, this is merely incidental.
Wen Caishang nodded and said, "That’s right, perhaps venturing into a dangerous place made you digest the ’one scale and half tail’ of the Essence of Heaven and Earth much faster."
All around is serene, occasionally hearing the birds chirping.
No sign of pursuit for a long time, a leisurely mood arises. Naturally discussing martial arts. Wen Caishang intended to teach, glancing at the large tree beside her, said, "You perform the Jade Palm on this tree, control the strength, be careful not to break it."
The tree is seven zhang high, with dense foliage. There is nothing special about it.
Li Xian’s Qi Lake is nearly seventy zhang. The Qi surged, and he raised his palm and struck. The trunk trembled violently, leaves rustling and falling. Poisonous snakes, venomous insects, miscellaneous bugs... all fell down together.
Wen Caishang said, "Your palm technique is perfect and has reached its peak, but it can be stronger by one more step. Try striking again while initiating the Immortal Sound."
Li Xian pondered, "Initiate the Immortal Sound?", and at the instant of striking, there was a light touch of bone, and the ethereal Immortal Sound played. Just a "bang" was heard, and the trunk shivered.
The leaves fell like raindrops straight to the ground, embedded in the soil. Leaves are supposed to drift left and right with the wind, so falling straight was indeed astonishing.
Li Xian realized, "This is a miraculous effect of the Immortal Sound!"
Wen Caishang laughed, "As I said, like this, thus, while playing the Immortal Sound, strike again." Li Xian did as instructed, striking the trunk with his palm.
The leaves fluttered, swirling around the trunk like a whirlpool of water. Li Xian asked, "Ma’am, what is the principle behind this?"
Wen Caishang laughed, "The ethereal Immortal Sound is a cornerstone of Martial Arts. Mastering the Immortal Sound elevates your strength to a higher level."
"Think carefully, a Martial Artist has two hundred and six bones in the body, and each pair has a different resonance. When finger bones collide, the sound is crisp and fleeting. When leg bones collide, it is dull and resonant."
"Countless tones, intertwined. Some slow, some fast, some clear, some muffled. Forming innumerable strange sounds, a martial artist’s lifetime might not exhaust exploration."
"And the wonderful uses are endless, just like the endless changes of natural things."
Li Xian suddenly understood, "Heaven and earth have colors, and sounds too."
"The babble of the creek, the clear sound passing through mountain stone gaps, the rustle of falling leaves... everything, endless and infinite. A martial artist’s body is like heaven and earth, naturally wanting to imitate the sound of heaven and earth. Ma’am... am I right?"
Wen Caishang stunned, laughed, "Considered correct. You’re very clever, Martial Arts require personal insights. I will first teach you two tones."
"The first tone is called the ’Protective Sound,’ starting from the tailbone... Against strong foes, or when injured, you resonate with the Protective Sound. It can protect the entire body and keep the mind still and clear."
"The second tone is called the ’Attack and Kill Sound,’ starting from the Jade Pillow Pass through many bones... When you raise your palm or sword, resonate with the Attack and Kill Sound. The killing momentum strengthens, like two armies clashing, one side drums fiercely, full of momentum. The other is silent and low in morale. Once the battle starts, the side with fierce drumming can defeat the stronger force!"
The foundation of a Martial Artist lies in the spine.
The spine is the pillar of the heaven, the origin of all sounds. The twenty-four vertebrae correspond to the solar terms of heaven and earth.
The three passes of tailbone, Jiaji, and Jade Pillow, respectively link to the beginning of Qi, warming of heart fire, and mysteries of brain marrow. Standing tall, connecting the heavens with the earth.
Li Xian forged his spine like a divine mountain. Once the Immortal Sound played, the momentum, aura, scale... already greatly surpassed others!
Martial Artists without any entry, haphazardly stepping into the Second Realm. Initially feeling the wonder of the Immortal Sound, only then knowing the importance of the "spine," but often too late. Li Xian was fortunate to have Wen Caishang’s guidance, and walked this path steadily.
In-depth cultivated First Realm Martial Artists, in Qi power, martial arts, response...may not fall short of Second Realm Martial Artists. So why do they suffer greatly in battle? It lies in these mysteries.
Li Xian learned the ’Protective Sound’ and ’Attack and Kill Sound,’ benefiting tremendously, his strength asserting dramatically. Playing the Protective Sound, the body emitted a faint white radiance. Playing the Attack and Kill Sound, the sword momentum swelled fiercely.
Soon he mastered all. Wen Caishang said, "Though the Immortal Sound is wondrous, it must not be played recklessly. Randomly playing the Immortal Sound when facing enemies, will instead harm oneself."
Li Xian humbly learned. First grasping this important point, full of enthusiasm. Memorizing the ’Protective Sound’ and ’Attack and Kill Sound,’ practicing them with smooth start and stop.
After half an hour, Li Xian initially mastered it, seeing the sky clearing brightly, packed up, and continued the journey, Li Xian clearing the way ahead, Wen Caishang protecting by his side.
Li Xian said, "Does Ma’am also excel in playing the Ethereal Immortal Sound?" Wen Caishang said, "No, I am not good at the Chest Drum Thunder Sound or the Ethereal Immortal Sound, they could even be considered abandoned skills. My prowess lies in ’Muddy Clothes.’"
Li Xian asked, "Such powerful techniques abandoned, isn’t it a pity?" Wen Caishang shook her head and laughed, "There are endless powerful techniques under the sky. Martial Artists are skilled at some and not others. What’s so strange? The Ethereal Immortal Sound is indeed powerful, a cornerstone of Martial Arts, but... being proficient in the Ethereal Immortal Sound does not define prowess. Martial Arts are vast, with a myriad of strange methods; you ask too early and it’s pointless, better hurry on our journey!"
It’s not that she was holding back, but the pathways of Martial Arts are too numerous. Words cannot fully explain, only by walking and seeing, trying and tasting... can one understand the essence.
After traveling a few miles. Li Xian was full of new insights, suddenly seeing a brightness up ahead, reaching the edge of a cliff. A gentle breeze blew across the body.
Blowing away all the stifling dampness. Raising his head in relief, he felt refreshed and invigorated.
The cliff was several zhang high. Li Xian cut down tree vines, weaving them into a rope, climbed down along the rope. Nearing the bottom of the cliff, his feet on the ground, suddenly felt his body sinking...
Li Xian exclaimed, "This is a marsh! The bushes blocked the view, luckily I didn’t jump directly in. Otherwise, getting caught in the swamp would be dangerous!" Climbed back up the cliff to inform of the situation.
Along the edge, they found another narrow path, descending the cliff.
Traveling another ten miles or more. The surrounding vegetation gradually changed, the wild shrubs all disappeared, the ancient trees were tall, but no longer blocked the sunlight.
Wen Caishang exclaimed with joy: "This is the ’Rest Stop Forest’." Li Xian asked, "What is the Rest Stop Forest?" Wen Caishang explained, "In ancient times, strong men liked to build tombs in the mountains and wilderness. The carpenters, craftsmen, and entourage... had to travel back and forth many times. However, the greenery and ferocious dangers along the way in the mountains and wilderness, you and I have both seen."
"And the construction of a grand tomb could take... decades, even over a hundred years. Therefore, those entoure, craftsmen... would plant seeds of ’Luobu Fir’ in the dense forest on their way back and forth."
"The Luobu Fir is resilient, can gnaw at tree roots, and its trunk is straight. The fragrance of the tree repels insects. After evolving into a forest, it becomes a safer woodland."
Li Xian said: "Madam is knowledgeable." Feeling genuine admiration. Wen Caishang joyfully said: "Now that we’ve reached the Rest Stop Forest, we can relax a bit."
Suddenly they felt enlightened. Sunshine poured down, warming them all over. The damp feeling completely dissipated. Li Xian found a lake, where playful fish frolicked, posing no danger.
The two entered the lake for a bath. They washed away the sweat and grime, removed their clothes to dry by the fire, feeling entirely at ease, finally able to rest for a while.
Li Xian sighed: "The proverb ’One plants the tree, and another gets the shade’ is indeed true." The grassland was dry, and though there were mosquitoes, snakes, and mice, they were not rampant.
They spread out their ground sheet, gazed at the stars and the moon, and the gentle breeze lulled them into a deep, comfortable sleep.
The next day.
Li Xian practiced martial arts, going through various techniques like the Seven Stars Step, Setting Sun Bloodsword, and Vast Leg...
The Qi Lake flourished, showing further progress.
His stomach growled with hunger. He went to the lakeside, picked up a stone, wrapped it with silk. Aiming at the fish, he shot with precision. The stone embedded in the fish, and with a pull of the silk, the fish was brought out of the lake.
He caught three fish in succession and made a good harvest. Li Xian packed up the silk and headed back. Suddenly, he noticed bloodstains on the ground, thinking: "Could it be that someone has been here before me?"
To be cautious, he followed the bloodstains. Pushing aside a clump of thick grass, he indeed saw a figure. Short in stature, with an ordinary appearance, his clothes were wet, sticky, filthy, and smelly.
It was a disciple of the Wuji Saber Sect.
Li Xian raised his palm ready to kill, but suddenly thought:
"This person is of no consequence, and there’s no rush to kill him. His presence here proves the Wuji Saber Sect has also entered Tiger Cry Ridge. Better to wake him up and inquire about the situation. Killing him later will not be too late."
He checked his breathing and felt his bones. Gently applying pressure with his fingers, he dislocated his wrist and ankle joints. Carrying him back to camp, Wen Caishang was meditating and practicing inner cultivation, surprised at his return, asked about the situation. Li Xian explained honestly.
Wen Caishang checked the injuries, prepared herbs, and had Li Xian cook and decoct them. She unsheathed her sword, intending to sever his limbs, to prevent future troubles.
Li Xian said: "Madam, hold on! I’ve already dislocated his joints; even if he wakes up, he won’t be able to stir trouble. If we cut off his limbs, he will be desperate, and we won’t be able to get any information out of him."
Wen Caishang nodded and smiled: "Makes sense." The two of them had the same thought.
She re-sheathed the sword into her sleeve, vanishing from sight. Li Xian was very curious about how it disappeared into thin air.
After the herbal medicine was prepared, he fed it to the person. About half a day later, the person coughed a few times and woke up groggily.
Li Xian used threats and inducements to question him. In fear and lamenting his miserable fate, feeling hopeless and helpless, he revealed everything he knew without holding back.
It turned out...
The Sword-Seeking Alliance was gaining tremendous momentum, strongly aided by the cold-blooded Divine Hunter and indignantly supported by righteous Jianghu vigilantes. They besieged the vicinity of Wei Hu River, pressing forward with unprecedented ferocity.
Yet they came up empty-handed.
Li Xian and Wen Caishang, in desperation, hid in Tiger Cry Ridge.
Leng Shixing said: "Since they have hidden in Tiger Cry Ridge, there’s no need to chase them further. There’s a ninety percent chance they won’t survive." He voluntarily took his leave.
Su Qiuyu and others set up a banquet to bid farewell to Leng Shixing. They all wondered: "Is this the end?"
Although Su Qiuyu, Li Quan, Qi Beidao, Shen Pingping, Zhao Zhiyuan, and others knew the dangers of Tiger Cry Ridge, they were uneasy as they hadn’t found either living people or corpses.
They discussed and decided to search the Ridge for three days. Regardless of the outcome after three days, they would all withdraw from the Ridge. Li Quan, coming from the Taixin Sect, had longstanding ties with the Tiger Luo Sect. He specially visited the Sect Master of the Tiger Luo Sect, Zhang Ruifeng, hoping to acquire a map of Tiger Cry Ridge.
Zhang Ruifeng gently declined, advising them not to enter the Ridge. However, after months of pursuit, filled with injuries and setbacks, their deep-seated resentment had turned into an obsession.
Why would they heed such advice? They all thought: "Even if we can’t get the map, as long as we proceed cautiously, it should be fine."
They all entered Tiger Cry Ridge, leaving only Qian Jinghao and a few disciples outside to guard. Little did they realize, they were walking into a trap.
Ancient trees shielded the sky.
The group was successively assailed by "tiger disasters," resulting in dozens of people perishing to tigers. Furthermore, they were drenched by incessant rain, catching bizarre diseases that left them red and swollen.
By the second day, Su Qiuyu had already begun organizing the retreat, daring not to chase further. Although they clearly marked their way in, upon leaving, they inexplicably got lost! All made markings were nowhere to be found.
Their strength was formidable, possessing the ability to distinguish east, west, north, and south. But although they could tell north from south, they always went off course when walking. The farther they went, the more disorderly it became, leading to not knowing where they were, unable to find their way whether heading north or south.
In the following days, they encountered swamps, labyrinthine forests, humanoid apes... suffering nearly seventy percent losses.
Zhao Zhiyuan, Su Qiuyu, Li Quan... these dignified Third Realm Martial Artists, due to a momentary oversight, were dragged into the swamp by a giant crocodile.
Though their strength was formidable, allowing them to slay the giant crocodile,
they were unable to ensure their own safety, let alone pursue further.
